Strange phenomenon

Many questions lingered on was it a compliment, a ploy or something commonplace?

It is what I consider a strange phenomenon and when it happened again recently, I fell to mulling over it. Many questions came to mind – was it a compliment, a ploy or something that is commonplace?

I was at the Provident Fund Office to sign the Life Certificate. I had managed to reach early but there was a throng of people. I was looking around uncertainly, when a gentleman came up, offering help. Without further ado, I was conducted to a chair that was vacant. “Don’t worry, madam,” he said, “it will get done eventually.” He then dived into his bag and took out a piece of candy.

Carefully unwrapping it, he gave it to me. He then remarked, “I’ve brought my father for the same purpose. Do you know, you look very much like my mother!” I felt rather uncomfortable but accepted the sweet with what I believed was grace. His father was well ahead in the queue and I did not meet either of them again. What makes this occurrence unusual was that this has happened, at least, on three other occasions.

The first was when I was doing my B.Ed course. I was married then with two small children. The others in my class were much younger than I. One of them was a novice priest. We became friends and, at a point much later, he confided that he was drawn to me because I resembled his mother closely.

The second incident took place after a good interval. I had gone to an electrical store along with my daughter to buy a few things. When the man at the counter saw me, his face registered great surprise. “Madam,” he stammered, “you look so much like my mother. I lost her only some months back.” He insisted that I go with him to his house close by. He introduced us to his wife and served us refreshments.

The third happened at a popular restaurant and hotel that was situated on MG Road. It has since shut down. This time, too, my daughter had accompanied me. We were at a table, when all at once the waiter appeared with a tall glasses of lemonade sent with compliments from the manager. Meal finished, we were on our way out when the manager appeared. He asked us whether we would mind going into his office. Wondering what was up, we entered.

He pulled out two chairs and, before I was seated, bent down and touched my feet. I was taken aback and embarrassed. Next, he took out the money we had paid and handed it to me saying, “I cannot take this money from you. You resemble my mother so closely.” She had died some years ago and it seemed to him that she had returned. I was touched by his gesture, but refused to take the money. Wishing him well, I left the place.

I am now left with a question lingering in my mind. Are such occurrences commonplace and am I merely making a mountain out of a molehill?